Rummage

I'm not good with Christmas shopping. All the barge and shove to a soundtrack of screechy Mariah Carey carols makes me break out in a rash.

So here's what I would give you dear Rummage reader if I could:
It's a really early morning, sun's just come up. Probably about 5:30ish, (we can be flexible with this If you're not good with early mornings). You're wearing swimwear under some loose fitting clothes and running shoes of choice. It's a perfect early summer morning, a slight breeze and you are on the edge of a beach with the tide on the way out.
You've done a few stretches because you're good like that and are just plugging in the iPod for the run. The Rummage Playlist is ready to go although the tip is to have it pretty low so you can still hear the roar of the waves. List 1 is as follows:
Mumm-rah "she's got you high", The Black Keys "lonely boy", Beyonce "Single Ladies" (stay with me here), Cyprus Hill "Pigs", Blondie "I'm gonna love you too", George Michael "faith", The Black Keys "howlin for you", The Knack 'my sharona'. If you've got through all of this you should be a fair way down the beach and you should have also built up a decent sweat. Take off those clothes, get rid of the ipod and find a safe spot to dive in. Do it, dive. Dont faff around pretending to. Swim around, kick back and then get out after a couple of minutes. By now you should completely have your running groove happening. Feel free to bellow at the top of your lungs random lyrics as you head back (remember its early and theres no one around but a couple of old blokes fishing). Right, ready for slightly more chilled playlist 2: Cowboy Junkies "sweet Jane", Bernard Fanning 'watch over me", The Decemberists "January hymn", Sarah Blasko "flame trees", Lizzie West "chariots rise", Neil Young "heart of gold", Otis Redding 'Dock of the Bay". This should just about get you back to where you were. Lie down on the sand starfish style and listen to the beat of your heart return to normal and feel the endorphins kicking in.

Merry Christmas to you, lovely reader. I'll still be posting like a maniac over on Instagram - nanettelf - but I'll see you back here early in the New Year.
Much love, N xxxx

Here we are at day ten and we have finally got ourselves within cooee of some hot showers, thankfeck.
The only problem is I have NO SHAMPOO, can't believe I went into town and then still forgot to get some dammit! I will be experimenting with Aesop soap this evening.

Going to see some old friends tomorrow we haven't seen for ages, there's a new baby there I'm hoping to cuddle. Hope you're travelling well this week. Xxxx

We are moving on today to another little seaside place. I had a farewell present early this morning when i saw a pod of dolphins on the beach, they were chasing each other through the waves. Made me catch my breath.

Not much else happening except a bit of random crafting. The littlest one has taught herself to ride her bike without help and has been pedaling furiously up and down the paddock. I'm reading Dickens 'Little Dorrit', the big girl continues her adventures in weaving. Life is good people. Xxxxxxx

I have been running on the beach early each morning, dodging waves with a Florence and the Machine soundtrack turned down low so that I can hear the throb of the ocean. It's the perfect place for me to run as I rarely encounter people and my tendency to burst into loud spontaneous song isn't disturbing anyone but the gulls.

This morning as I ran, a perfect wave rode in to the shore with the sunlight refracting off the endless blue and i had that heart-stopping moment of beauty. Halted me in my tracks, rare when I've got my running groove on. I am no patriot, i have no love of nationalism when I see the damage these kinds of movements have made throughout history and yet this moment on the sand made me understand I do have a deep and abiding love for this land.

Then I also starting thinking about the balls-up that is the Kyoto Agreement - the Canadians pulling out and the extension of time to reach binding decisions. WTF?? I'm not even sure we should stick with it when it just seems to have reduced to a spin-fest. Should major players pull out? Would this ramp up the moral imperative enough to make us all get our shit together before it's too late? Is Kyoto an excuse to sit on our collective arses and hope that moments like this morning on the beach will be a reality for our children? All I know is that I want to be part of a community that is prepared to make ballsy decisions right here, right now, Kyoto or no Kyoto.
Ps hope my physio isn't reading this as she banned me from running till after Christmas. Will be struck down by lightning when I tell her I have just been doing a spot of brisk walking.

All kinds of awesomeness is what this trip has been so far. Will tell you more later. Lots of pics over at Instagram - nanettelf - if you're keen. Hope your week has been good to you so far.
Much love. Xx

Woo! Packed. Sadly, the whippet's on the verge of a nervous breakdown and was last seen rocking in the corner with several pairs of my heels under his blanket. You know how dogs can sense when you're going somewhere? We've got a gorgeous friend coming to look after him but he doesn't buy it.
Still haven't booked anything and the current plan is to get in the car and drive until somewhere takes our fancy. I'll let you know how it turns out. Hope you have a lovely, lovely week. Xx

Hey there. How are you? Me? I'm thigh high in packing for what should win a guinness book of records award for Most Disorganised Holiday of All Time. The plan was to leave today which ain't gonna happen. We don't really know where we're going, haven't booked anything and don't know how long we'll stay away. Did I mention I still need to do a shitload of Christmas shopping? And then there's the two surfboards, four bikes and three guitars to cater for.
What I can tell you is that I have made an awesome summer mix tape. It's all about getting your priorities right you see.
I think this trip is going to be a slow fang around the coast of nsw catching up with some mates along the way. Kinda glad not to get caught up in planning and details, just want to sit on a beach and BE. Now if only I could shut the bloody boot.

Had a lovely weekend with friends over on Saturday night for dinner, jungle punch and dancing. Having good people in my life is something i am very grateful for. The fact that most of them like to rip up the dance floor is more than an added bonus. A couple of musos got on the instruments later on and topped it all off. Love to you and all the good people in your life. X

Having a party on Saturday that will involve my favorite jungle punch. Last time we had a party the jungle punch tipped over into rocket fuel pretty quickly so I'm hoping we pace ourselves a little better this time round. Also making a mix tape from hell. No karaoke sadly. I don't own a tv. Does anyone know if there are other options that they'd recommend?
Hope your weekend is a beautiful thing.